218 Notes on a Roman Building, and Interments. 
a fine view of the surrounding country, especially the high ridge of 
downs upon which the camps of Liddington and Barbury are so 
conspicuous. , 
It will be noticed from the plan that the building was probably 
a farm-house, consisting of a large central court around which 
were ranged the living-rooms and store-houses. Whether the large 
central space was ever covered in or not must remain doubtful; as 
during the excavation things were found so mixed up that it was 
almost impossible to ascertain anything with certainty. At some 
time the building was evidently destroyed by fire, and at a later 
time the remains were carted away, leaving nothing except the 
foundations and such domestic rubbish as would naturally ac- 
cumulate around a country house. That the walls were of great 
strength is proved by that remaining (in some places 3ft. in depth 
below the surface), which is 2ft. to 8ft. thick in all the outside — 
parts. The construction is peculiar in the fact that the lower 
layers of stones were placed edgeways in large masses of mortar 
which has retained its hardness even to the present day, the whole 
being one solid mass, requiring great exertion on the part of the 
workmen to break it up. 
On reference to the plan it will be seen that the only part yet 
examined consists of four divisions. The largest space, probably, 
as has been said, an open court, is 62ft. long x 386ft. wide. When 
opened it contained, under the original floor-level on the north 
side, a small square hypocaust (?) paved with small tiles bearing a 
crossed pattern of indented lines, and small stone flags, all of 
which showed signs of intense heat. Some quite 6in. thick were 
red and cracked right through. The entrance to this chamber was 
by a long and very narrow passage on the east side, which was 
choked up with ashes. At the south end of the large court, close 
under the wall, was the skeleton of a young person deposited in a 
doubled-up position, perhaps coeval with the dismantling of the 
building. Amongst the debris of this part was a large vase of 
black Upchurch ware, together with a quantity of other pottery, 
several pieces of which are of special interest, one beautifully-shaped 
vase having been unfortunately smashed by a fall of stones. There 
